EA Says Next Battlefield Is 'Expected' Fiscal Year 2026

EA's Next Battlefield Game: A Return to Roots

Electronic Arts (EA) has announced that the next installment in the Battlefield franchise is slated for release within its fiscal year 2026, spanning April 2025 to March 2026. This announcement follows the unveiling of Battlefield Labs, a new player-testing initiative designed to gather feedback during the development process.

A recent video showcased pre-alpha gameplay, offering a first glimpse at the upcoming title. EA is leveraging a collective known as Battlefield Studios, encompassing four studios: DICE (Stockholm), Motive, Ripple Effect, and Criterion. Each studio is contributing to different aspects of the game:

• DICE (Sweden): Multiplayer development.
• Motive: Single-player missions and multiplayer maps.
• Ripple Effect: Attracting new players to the franchise.
• Criterion: Single-player campaign.

This collaborative effort marks a critical phase in development, with EA actively seeking player feedback to refine core gameplay elements. Battlefield Labs will facilitate this, testing various aspects, including core combat, destruction, weapons, vehicles, gadgets, maps, modes, and squad play. Conquest and Breakthrough modes are confirmed to be included, and the classic class system (Assault, Engineer, Support, and Recon) will be refined for enhanced strategic gameplay. Participants in Battlefield Labs will be required to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).

The new Battlefield represents a significant investment for EA, involving multiple studios and marking a departure from the controversial Battlefield 2042. The game will return to a modern setting, drawing inspiration from the critically acclaimed Battlefield 3 and 4, abandoning the Specialist system and the 128-player maps of its predecessor. The new game will feature 64 players per map, focusing on core Battlefield gameplay. Concept art previously released hinted at ship-to-ship and helicopter combat, as well as natural disaster elements like wildfires.

EA's commitment to the next Battlefield is substantial, following the closure of Ridgeline Games, a studio previously working on a standalone single-player Battlefield title. The goal is to recapture the trust of long-time fans while expanding the franchise's appeal to a broader audience, offering diverse experiences within the Battlefield universe. Platform details and the official game title remain unannounced.